Pumping apparatus for oil wells



A. J. TAYLOR ET AL.

PUMPING APPARATUS FOR OIL WELLS Filed June 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 314 uem '01 S Feb 1?. 1925,

A. J. TAYLOR ET AL PUMPING APPARATUS FOR OIL WELLS Filed qune Patented Feb. 17, 192 5.

UNITED STATES 1,526,723 PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER J. TAYLOR, OF'IPERRY, LOUISIANA, AND JAMES. W. TAYLOR OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS; SAID ALEXANDER J. TAYLOR ASSIGNOR TO- SAID JAMES W.

TAYLOR.

PUMPING APPARATUS son on. WELLS.

Application filed June 6, 1923. Serial No. 643,652

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER J. TAY- LoR, acitizen of the United States, residing at Perry, in the parish of Vermilion, State of Louisiana, and JAMES W. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sanv Antonic, in the county "of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPumping Apparatus for Oil Wells, of which the following is a specification, reference being had'to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to pumping apparatus for oil wells and more particularly to a device of this type in which oil is forced from the'well by thepressure of air or gas. An important object of the invention is to provide a device. of this character having improved means for controlling the admission of air to the flow line to force the fluid therefrom. v I

' A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the flow line includes a plurality of valves for admitting air thereto, the valves being so constructed that as the flow line "is either raised or lowered the valves are successively opened and closed during. such raising or lowering operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved valve for use in this construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved means for controlling the movement of the flow,

line. p

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic lift for elevating the flow line, together with adjustable means for limiting the return of the flow line to lowered position. These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view partially in elevation of the lower end of a wellcasing embodying a pumping apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention;

Figure 1 is a similar view of the upper endof the casing and the apparatus associated therewith;

Figure. 2 is an enlarged-sectional view through the foot valve employed;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view' through one of theco-ntrol valves showing the same in the position assumed when the casing is resting upon the bottom of the well;

of the valve showing the same in the open position;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the V valve closed due to lifting of the casing;

I and Figures 6 and 7 are sections on the'lines 66 and 7+? respectively of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the 'casing of a well and, 11 a flow line disposed within the casing. The flow line 11 comprises a plurality of sections 12 connected by control valves 13 for controlling the admission of air or gas contained within the casing to the flow line. The lowermost section 12 of the flow line is provided with a Figure 4 1s a fragmentary sectional view foot screen and valve structure, generally indicated at 15. The flow line is sealed to the casing, as generally indicated at 16, adjacent the upper end thereof, the'seal permitting the vertical movement of the flow line 11 within the casing 10. Below the seal 16 a fluid pressure inlet 17 is provided through which pressure'may be introduced to the casing to enter the flow line through the valves 13 hereinbefore indicated. At the upper end of the casing means are provided,-.

generally indicated at18, forlifting the flow line and the flow line is provided, as at 19,

with means adjustably limiting the lowering thereof. The details of the lifting and limiting means will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

The valves 13 each embody upper and lower connecting sleeves 20 and 21 adapted at their upper and lower ends, respectively, for engagement with the ssociated section 12 of the flow line 11. he section 20 is -providedinteriorly at its lower end with an inwardly directed flange 21', the inner face of which is provided with vertically dis.- posed grooves 22 having a depth of approxi mately one-quarter of the thickness of the flange. The upper face 23 of the flange 21* provides a finished presently to appear, and the lower surface of this flange and of the sleeve 20, indicated at 2 4, is similarly finished. The sleeve 21 .Qhas" threaded into the upperjend thereof a surface, for a purposereducing sleeve 25, the upper end of the reducing sleeve is provided withan outwardly directed flange 26, the upper surface of which is providd with a ground or finished face 27 opposing the ground or finished face at the lower end of the sleeve 20, so that when these faces are brought together a sealed joint is formed. If desired, the reducer 25 and sleeve 21 may be integrally connected instead of forming the same in separate parts as illustrated. The reducer 25 is interiorly threaded for engagement with the lower end of a valve sleeve 28, the upper end of which extends into the sleeve 20 and is provided above the flange 21 of this sleeve with an outwardly directed flange 29, the outer face of which is provided with vertically extending slots 30 of a depth equal to approximately one-quarter of the thickness of the flange, the lower face 31 of the flange 29 is finished for engagement with the upper face 23 of the. flange 21 and when engaged therewith forms a seal preventing the passage of' fluid from the grooves 22 of the flange 21 to the grooves 30 of the flange 29 and so into the casing. It will be obvious that-if the upper valve, will successively .open and .More particularly during the hoisting operasection 12 or casing, through which the sleeve 20 is connected, is lowered the face 24 at the lower end of this sleeve will come into engagement with the surface 27 of the reducer 25 and prevent the entrance of fluid from'the easing into the interior of the flow line at this valve, and similarly if the upper section is elevated until the faces 23 and 31 come into engagement passage between the casing and flow line is sealed. However,

when the flange 21 is so positioned that neither of its faces 23 or 24: is in engagement with its coacting face 31 or 27, fluid may flow from the casing to the flow line through the grooves 22 of the flange 21 and the grooves 30 of the flange 29.

It will therefore be obvious that if the flow line be resting upon the bottom' of the welland unsupported at its upper end, all of the valves 13 will be in the position illustrated in Figure 1, the faces24 and 27 being in engagement and accordingly the flow line is sealed against the entrance of fluid from the casing unless the same enter through thelower screen and check valve member 15, hereinafter more'particularly described. .If pressure is nowapplied, as by the means 18, to elevate the flow line the valves 13, beginning with the uppermost close.

tion the flange 21 of the uppermost valve will be elevated, the faces 24 and 27 parting and opening a communication between the interior of the flow line and the casing at this valve. As-the upward movement continues the shoulders or faces 23 and 31 will come into en a ement and't is. communication will be sealed. This action is repeated irt each of the valves until the entire flow me, at which time all of the valves will be closed and the flow line in the same condition as it was when it was resting upon the bottom of the well, all of the valves thereof being closed with the exception of the fact that each of the valves will be in the position indicated in Figure 5, with the faces 23 and 31 in engagement. It will be ob- Vious that if the flow line from this elevated position is now lowered the valves, beginning with the lowermost valve, will be successively opened and closed until the valves are all positioned as illustrated in Figure 1, hereinbefore mentioned. It will furthermore be obvious that by checking the raising or lowering of the flow line at any desired intermediate point, any of the valves 13 may be lifted in the open position and that all of the remaining valves above and below this valve will be closed. The advantage of this structure will be obvious, since by closing all of the valves above the entrance point wasting ofair is prevented and at the same time in order to open the valve above this point it is merely necessary to lower the easing a very short distance. If ten valves are employed in the length of a flow line and 7 each valve has an overall travel of inch, the only necessary movement of the flow line will be through a distance of 5 inches outside of an allowance made for settling of the lower end of the flow line.

At the lower end of the flow line we provide the means 15 which includes a sleeve 32 threaded for engagement with the lower end of the lowermost section 12 0f the flow line 11. The threads of the inner upper end of this sleeve are continued below the lower end of the flow line and are engaged by a disk 33 arranged below the lower end of the flow line having perforations 34: formed therein. To the lower end of the sleeve is threaded a screen 35, the upper end including the means 15, is suspended,

of which has threaded therein a valve seat 7 36 for a ball check 37. The screen 35 permits the admission of fluids to the lower end of the flow line where they will displace the ball check and pass upwardly through the erforations of the plate 33, "this plate serving to limit the upward movement of the check valve 37. This fitting therefore admits fluid to the flow line but prevents the return of this fluid to the space between the casing and the flow line.

The upper end of the casing 10 is engaged by the lower end of an interiorly threaded sleeve 38 forming a housing for the seal 16 hereinbefore referred to. The seal 16 is formed by providing within the sleeve an annulus 39 which surrounds the upper end of the upper section of the flow pipe and which forms upon its upper surface a seat for a ring 40, the upper surface of which is beveled toward the inner edge thereof. Above this ring 40 is disposed a similar ring 41 which is inverted with relation to the ring 40 and between these rings packing 42 is disposed. The upper ring 41 is forced downwardly against the packing 42 to compress the same by means ofengagement therewith of the threaded lower end 43 of a cylinder 44 forming a portion of the elevating mechanism 18 hereinbefore referred to. By rotating this elevating mechanism the desired pressure upon the packing element 42 may be attained. The upper end of the upper section 12 of the fiow line terminates within the cylinder 44 and'is provided with a piston 45 having a fit within this cylinder, the piston being threaded upon the upper end of the section which extends above the. upper end of the piston a slight distance and has engaged therewith a coupling 46. The upper end of the cylinder 44 is closed by a removable head 47 having an axial opening 48 through which is directed athreaded tubular member 49 upon which is mounted ahand-wheel 50 for adjustment, the lower end of this threaded tubular member is disposed through the bore 48 and engages in thecoupling 46, the bore being of such size as to provide a space about the sleeve. The upper end of the sleeve '49 is connected by a coupling 51 with one end of a goose-neck 52, the opposite end of which is slidably directed through a stufi'ing box 53 provided upon the end'of a discharge line 54. The discharge line is provided with an injector nozzle 55 for a purpose presently to appear.

The inlet opening for fluid pressure, indicated at 17, is formed in the'sleeve 38, hereinbefore referred to, and is in the form of a pipe 55% leading from a suitable source of pressure, (not herein disclosed). With this pipe a branch 56 communicates leading to a valve 57. From the valve 57 a pipe 58 leads to the lower end of the cylinder 44. A branch pipe 59, having a valve 60 arranged therein, communicates with the pipe 58 between the valve 57 and a union 61 disposed in the pipe 58. This branch pipe 59 leads to the'injector nozzle 55; 1

Assuming the flow line 11 to be in the lowermost position and it is desired to elevate the same to a predetermined point, the valve '60 is closed and the valve 57 is opened. Pressure from the pipe 55 now enters the cylinder 44 through the pipes 56 and 58 and the piston 45 is caused to rise within the cylinder. When the piston has arisen to the point slightly above the desired" point the hand-wheel 50, which forms the means 19 for adjustably limitingcthe downward movement of the flow line, is moved downwardly upon .the sleeve 49 until it comes into engagement with the head 48, t Which time it will support the flow line. By adjusting the (positioning of the flow This positioning bethe flow line it will be obvious that at any desired point the flow line can be completely closed, since at a predetermined point, in other Words, at a point where the valve has just closed, the valve just above or below has not yet started to open and accordingly the flow line will be sealed. In some instances it has been found that the lower end of the flow line will choke as the result of accumulated foreign matter at the bottom of the casing and when this occurs this foreign matter can be caused to discharge through the line by reciprocating the flow line and thus breaking it up or forcing it to move upwardly in the flow line. Since the flow line is provided at its lower end with a check, during its downward movement it will admit fluid which cannot escape therefrom and accordingly will act somewhat in the manner of a pump. When it is desired to lower the head the valve 60 is opened and the valve 57 closed, so that air beneath the piston escaping from the cylinder 44 passes-through the injector nozzle 55 and serves to assist in clearing the discharge line 54.

It will be obvious that the structure hereinbefore set forth is capable of considerable change and modification *and that both the type of valve employed and the means for governing the position of the flow line are capable of some change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of our invention and we accordingly do not limit ourselves to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

We clfaim:

1; A flow line for wells comprising aplurality of longitudinallymovable sections and valves connecting adjacent ends of the sections permitting rellative movement of the sections connected thereby predetermined limits, said valves, at either limit of the relative movement of the sections connected thereby, 'closing communication between the exterior and interior of the flow line, and between such limits permitting communication therebetween.

2. A flow line for wells'co-mprising a plu--.'

rality of longitudinally movab lle sections and valves connecting adja ent ends of the sections permitting rellative movement of the sections connected thereby within prewithin determined limits, said valves at either limit of the relative movement of the sections connected thereby, closing communication between the exterior and interior of the flow line, and between such limits permitting communication" therebetween, and fluid pressure operated means for longitudinally shifting the flow line.

3. A flow line for wells comprising a'plurality of longitudinally movable sections and valves connecting adjacent ends of the sections permitting relative movement of the sections connected thereby within predetermined limits, said valves at eitherlrimit of the relative movement of the sections connected thereby, closing communication between the exterior and interior of the flow line, and between such limits permitting communication therebetween, fluid pressure operated means for vertically shifting the flow line, and adjustable means for limiting downward movement of the flow line.

at. A flow line for wells comprising a plurality of longitudinally movable sections and valves connecting adjacent ends of the sections permitting relative movement of the sections connected thereby within predetermined limits, said valves at either limit of the relative movement of the sections connected thereby, closing communication between the exterior and interior of the flow line, and between such limits permitting communication thcrebetween, means shifting the flow line, and means for indicating the position of the valves of the flow line.

5. A. flow line for wells comprising a plurality of longitudinally movable sections and valves connecting adjacent ends of the sections, each including a member secured to one section and embodying spaced opposed shoulders and a member secured to the other of the sections and embodying an enlargement operating between the opposed shoulders of the first named section and adapted for alternate engagement therewith, the enlargement of the last named section being of less length than the distance between the shoulders and being provided upon. its face with passages communieating with similar passages formed in the first named section when the enlargement of the last named section is out of engagement with the shoulders of the first named section.

6. A flow line for wells comprising a plurality of longitudinally movable sections and valves connecting adjacent ends of the sections, each comprising upper and lower sleeves connected to the upper and lower sections, respectively, and provided at adjacent ends thereof with finished faces adapted to .seat one against the other, the upper sleeve being provided with an inwardly directed flange at its lower end, and

j a third sleeve engaged-with the-lower sleeve for having at its upper end an outwardly directed flange slidably abutting the inner face of the upper sleeve, the lower face of the last named flange and the upper face of the first named flange having finished opposed, faces adapted to seat one against the other when in engagement, the outer face of the last named flange and theinner face of the first named flange being provided with grooves or passageways.

7. In an oil well, a casing, a flow line vertically shiitable within the casing, means operated by vertical shifting of the flow line in either direction for successively placing spaced points within the flow line in communication with the casing, the casing being in communication with a source of fluid pressure, and means for vertically shifting the flow line.

8. In an oil well, a casing, a flow line vertically shiftable within the casing, means operated by vertical shifting of the flow line for successively placing spaced points within the flow line in communication with the casing, the casing being in communication with a source of fluid pressure, fluid pressure operated means for vertically shifting the flow line, including a cylinder carried by the upper end of the casing and into which the upper end of the flow line eX- tends, a piston carriedby the upper end of the flow line and operating within the cylinder, and a valve connection between the source of pressure and the cylinder below the piston.

9. In an oil well, a casing, a flow line vertically shiftable within the casing, means operated by vertical shifting of the flow linefor successively placing spaced points within the flow line in communication with the casing, the casing being in communication with a source of fluid pressure, fluid pressure operated means for vertically shifting the flow line, including a cylinder carried by the upper end of the casing and into which the upper end of the flow line extends, a piston carried by the upper endof the flow line and operating within the cylinder, and a valve connection between the source of pressure and the cylinder below the piston, a head for said cylinder, a sleeve communicating with the flow line freely directed through said head, and means adjustable upon the sleeve and engaging the head for limiting downward movement of the flow line.

10. In an oilwell, a casing, a flow line vertically shiftable within the casing, means operated by vertical shifting of the flow line for successively placing spaced points within the flow line in communication with the casing, the casing being in communication with a source of fluid pressure, fluid pressure operated means for vertically shifting the flow line, including a cylinder carried by the upper end of thecasing and into which the upper end of the flow line I extends a piston carried by the upper end gooseneck carried by the discharge pipe.

11. In an oil well, a casing, a flow line verticall shiftable within the casing, means operate by vertical shifting 'of the flow line for successively placing spaced points within the flow line in communication with the casing, the casing being in communication with a source of fluid pressure, fluid ing the flow'line, includin a cylinder carried b the upper end 0 the casing and into w ich the'upper end of the flow line extends, a piston carried by the upper end of the flow line and operating wlthin the c linder, and a valve connection between t e source of pressure and the cylinder below the piston, a head for said cylinder, a sleevecommunicating with the flow line freely di- I head for limiting said discharge pipe having. an'injector nozrected through said head, and means adjustable upon the sleeve and engaging the downward movement of the flow line, a discharge pipe, a goose-neck connected at one end to the upper end of the sleeve and having its opposite end extending into the discharge pipe, and a ackin'g gland for the last named end 0 the goose-neck carried by the discharge pipe,

, connection between the cylinder and valve thereof communicating with said in ector,

said outlet having avalve therein. a

' 1 2. In an oil well, a casing, a flow line vertically shiftable within the casing, means operated by vertical'shifting of the flow line in either direction for r successively placing spaced points within vthe flow line 1n communication with the casing, the casing' being in communication with a source of fluid pressure, fluid pressure operated means for vertically shifting the flow line,

' and means for indicating the'point of the flow line which is in the casin the lower end of said flow 'line. pressure operated means for vertically shift:

communication with 13. In an oil well, a casing, a flow line vertically shiftabl'e within the casing, means operated by vertical shifting of the flow line for successively placing spaced points with in the flow line in communication with the.

casing, the casing being in communication with a source of fluid pressure, fluld ressure operated means for vertically shi ing the flow line, each of said points of communication closing after the succeeding point of communication opens.

14. In an oil well, a casing, a flow line vertically tically shifting the flow line, each of said points of communication closing after the succeeding point of communication opens, and an upwardly opening check valve at 15. In pumping apparatus, a source of shiftable within the casing, -means operated by vertical shifting of the fluid under pressure, a flow line and a plurality of valves spaced along the flow line,

each of said valves including a stationary part and a part capable of limited movement with relation to the stationary part, said valves when the movable parts thereof are intermediate the limits establishing communication between the source of pressure and the flow line. v a

16. A tubing elevating and control mechanism for wells comprising a cylinder having means whereby the same may be secured to a casing head, a piston movable in the cylinder, and a tubing having "connection with the piston and adapted to be elevated thereby, and a combined cylinder closure and hand wh elmountedi on said tubing and adapted or holding said tubing'in a set position.

17 A tubing elevating and control mecha-' to a casing head, a piston movable in the cylinder, a tubing having connection with the upper hea sired set position.

Intestlmony whereof we hereunto afiix hour signatures.

" ALEXANDER JJTAYLOR. JAMIES W. TAYLO R. a,

105 nism for wells comprismg a cylinder having means whereby the same may be secured 

